About Us

An Institute devoted to research, education and outreach

The Cape Eleuthera Institute was born out of the growing need to expand both research and sustainable systems initiatives operating under the auspices of The Island School, an educational semester program founded by Chris and Pam Maxey in 1999. Capitalizing on the momentum generated by The Island School and the desire to address pertinent environmental issues facing The Bahamas and the Caribbean, core research and sustainable systems design initiatives were moved to the Cape Eleuthera Institute. This increases our capacity to undertake larger projects, create space for courses and workshops in tropical sciences and sustainable design, and facilitate more formal collaboration with other like-minded institutions and governments.

The completion of the first phase of the Cape Eleuthera Institute was celebrated on March 31, 2006 by the Rt. Honourable Perry Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, in the company of members of his cabinet, other government officials, Cape Eleuthera Foundation trustees, scientists, educators, students from The Island School and the Deep Creek Middle School, and generous supporters. Powered 100% by the sun and built from nearly 75% local materials, the campus of the Cape Eleuthera Institute demonstrates an unparalleled opportunity to live, work, and study in a cutting edge atmosphere. During the celebration, the switch was thrown on the power system marking nearly five years of effort to develop the first intertie between solar and conventional power systems in The Bahamas. This renewable energy not only provides power to all buildings on campus, including a 5,000 square foot flow-through seawater system, we are indirectly using this renewable energy to channel seawater into help rehabilitate a mangrove creek on our campus that was once disturbed by previous development.

With the completion of two 12-bed dormitory buildings and a unique timber framed classroom and common space, the Cape Eleuthera Institute now has the capacity to provide unique opportunities for research scientists interested in the local terrestrial and marine environments, or for professors and teachers wanting to provide their students with a holistic experience that combines conventional research in tropical sciences with the message of sustainable development and design. The newest addition to our sustainable campus is the Anderson-Cabot Hall for Graduate Studies. The three-stories tall building has LEED certification, a testament to our devotion to sustainable design.